HomeMy WebLinkAboutAmendment 3 Sycamore First1
Urban Renewal Plan for the
Sycamore and First Avenue
Urban Renewal Area
Amendment No. 3
June 2020
Amendment No. 2, 2014
Amendment No. 1, 2003
Original, 2000
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SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION
The Urban Renewal Plan for the Sycamore and First Avenue Urban Renewal Area, as
amended, is being amended to add climate change goals and add a proposed project to be
undertaken in the Area. The Sycamore and First Avenue Area was originally adopted in 2000
pursuant to resolution 00-295; amended in 2003 pursuant to Resolution 03-157 to add land to
the area; and amended in 2014 pursuant to Resolution 14-301 to add a project.
The base valuation of the area will be unchanged by this Amendment.
SECTION 2 – URBAN RENEWAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Urban Renewal Goals and Objectives previously set forth in the Original Plan and
Amendments No. 1 and 2 remain unchanged by this Amendment. This Amendment No. 3 adds
the goal of reducing carbon emissions by helping users of industrial facilities in the Urban Renewal
Area improve energy efficiency.
In 2007, the City of Iowa City took an important step toward addressing climate change by signing
the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement. In 2008, the Council agreed to participate in the
“Cities for Climate Protection Campaign.” In 2009, the City completed the first greenhouse gas
inventory in the state. The Mayor signed the updated U.S. Climate Protection Agreement in 2014
and the Council set greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals in 2016. In 2017, the City formed
a Climate Action Steering Committee to provide input on the development of a Climate Action
Plan. Comprised of and representing many stakeholders in the community, the Committee sought
and received public input to guide planning efforts. In 2017, Council adopted the Iowa City Climate
Action and Adaptation Plan. The Buildings section of the Action Plan includes among its goals, a)
increasing energy efficiency in businesses and b) increasing on-site renewable energy systems
and electrification. In 2019, Council increased the carbon emission reduction targets and declared
a Climate Crisis.
The average commercial building wastes about 30% of the energy it consumes. By capturing
inefficiencies, users can reduce costs. By reducing energy use, users also reduce greenhouse
gases emitted at power plants (Energy Star, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). Reducing
greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere is an effective way to stem climate change and
results in a cleaner, healthier environment. The amendment to this plan seeks to assist users
achieve those goals.
SECTION 3 – DESCRIPTION OF THE URBAN RENEWAL AREA
The legal description of the area is attached hereto as Attachment No. 1.
SECTION 4 – AREA DESIGNATION
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This area remains an economic development area, as that term is defined in the Iowa Code
Chapter 403.
SECTION 5 – PROPOSED URBAN RENEWAL PROJECTS
The eligible urban renewal projects under this Urban Renewal Plan include:
Development Agreements
Enter into development agreements with industrial users in the Urban Renewal Area to provide
economic development assistance for projects that include improvements to the facilities making
them more energy efficient. The proposed Urban Renewal Projects contemplated by this
Amendment No. 2 may require evaluation by a qualified third-party engineering firm to determine
and recommend the optimal energy efficiency solutions for industrial companies. Projects may
range from adjustments to existing systems to the installation of new systems. They may include
a change-over from natural gas to electric energy to the installation of solar panels to reduce
carbon emissions.
Project Date Estimated Cost Rationale
Energy efficiency
improvements at
Industrial properties
2020 – FY22 $425,000 To reduce carbon
emissions
SECTION 6 – DEBT
1. FY21 Constitutional Debt Limit: $342,894,916
2. Current general obligation debt: $54,850,000
3. Proposed amount of indebtedness to be incurred: Although a specific amount of tax
increment debt to be incurred (including direct grants, loans, advances, indebtedness, or bonds)
for projects over time has not yet been determined, it is anticipated that the cost of the Proposed
Urban Renewal Activities and Proposed Projects identified in Section 5 above will not exceed
$2.6 million. In no event will debt be incurred that would exceed the City’s debt capacity. It is
further expected that loans, advances, indebtedness or bonds to be incurred for the Proposed
Project or subsequent projects, including interest on the same, will be financed in whole or in part
with tax increment revenues from the Urban Renewal Area. The City Council will consider each
request for financial assistance or a project proposal on a case-by-case basis to determine if it is
in the City’s best interest to participate.
SECTION 7 – CONFORMANCE WITH LAND USE POLICY AND ZONING ORDINANCES
The Amendment is consistent with the Iowa City Comprehensive Plan, including the Southeast
District Plan.
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SECTION 8 – URBAN RENEWAL PLAN AMENDMENTS
If the City of Iowa City desires to amend this Plan, it may do so in conformance with applicable
state and local laws.
SECTION 9 – EFFECTIVE PERIOD
This Urban Renewal Plan Amendment #3 will become effective upon its adoption by the City
Council. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Urban Renewal Plan, any prior
amendment, resolution, or document, the Urban Renewal Plan, any prior amendment, resolution,
or document, the Urban Renewal Plan shall remain in effect until terminated by the City Council,
and the use of incremental property tax revenues, or the “division of revenue,” as those words are
used in Chapter 403 of the Code of Iowa, will be consistent with Chapter 403 of the Iowa Code.
SECTION 10 – REPEALER
Any parts of the previous Plan, as previously amended, in conflict with this Amendment are hereby
repealed.
SECTION 11 – SEVERABILITY CLAUSE
If any part of the Amendment is determined to be invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or
unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity of the previously adopted Plan as a whole or the
previous amendments to the Plan, or any part of the plan not determined to be invalid or
unconstitutional.
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Attachment #1
Legal Description
Commencing at the Southeast corner of the Northeast quarter of Section 23, Township 79N,
Range 6W, in accordance with the Records of the Johnson County Auditor's Office; thence
West along the South line of the Northeast quarter of Section 23 to the Southwest corner of the
Northeast quarter of Section 23; thence 33 feet to a point perpendicular on the Western Right-
of-Way line of Sycamore Street, thence Northerly along said Right-of-Way line to the
intersection of the Western Right-of-Way line of Sycamore Street and the Northern Right-of-
Way line of U.S. Highway 6, which is the Point of Beginning.
Thence Northerly along the Western Right-of-Way line of Sycamore Street to the Southeastern
corner of Johnson County Auditor's Parcel 10-14-386-003, thence 66 feet to a point
perpendicular on the Eastern Right-of-Way line of Sycamore Street; thence Northerly along the
Eastern Right-of-Way line of Sycamore Street to the Northwestern corner of Johnson County
Auditor's Parcel 10- 14-457 -004; thence Easterly 147 .61 feet to an angle point of said Parcel;
thence Northeasterly 413.83 feet; thence Northerly 57.36 feet to the Southern Right-of-Way line
of Lower Muscatine Road; thence Northwesterly along the Southern Right-of-Way line of Lower
Muscatine Road to a point perpendicular 33 feet from the Western corner of Johnson County
Auditor's Parcel 10-14- 452-004; thence Northeasterly 256.82 feet to the Northern corner of said
parcel; thence Southeasterly 40 feet to the Eastern corner of said parcel; thence Northeasterly
along the property line of Johnson County Auditor's Parcel 10-14-452-002 to its Northern
corner; thence Southeasterly 150 feet along the property line of said parcel to its Eastern
corner; thence Southwesterly 224.9 feet to the intersection of said parcel's Southern corner and
the Northern Right-of-Way line of Lower Muscatine Road.
Thence Southeasterly along the Northern Right-of-Way line of Lower Muscatine Road to the
Northern Right-of-Way line of Mall Drive; thence Northeasterly 1533.09 feet along the Northern
Right-of-Way line of Mall Drive to the Southern Right-of-Way line of the Iowa Interstate Railroad;
thence Southeasterly along said Right-of-Way line to its intersection with the Eastern line of
Section 14.
Thence South along the Eastern line of Section 14 to its intersection with the Eastern Right-
of-Way line of First Avenue; thence Southwesterly along said Right-of-Way line to the Western
corner of Johnson County Auditor’s Parcel 10-13-353-003; thence Easterly to the Eastern line of
Section 14; thence South along the Eastern line of Section 14 to the Northwest corner of
Johnson County Auditor's Parcel 10-13-353-002; thence Easterly 176 feet to the Eastern
property line of said parcel; thence Southwesterly along the Eastern property line of Parcel 10-
13-353-002 to it's Southeast corner; thence Northwesterly to the Eastern line of Section 23;
thence South along the Eastern line of Section 23 to the Southeast corner of the Johnson
County Auditor's Parcel described as 10-23-103, 001 through 029, then Southwesterly 988.76
feet to the Northern Right-of-Way line of Lower Muscatine Road, crossing said Right-of-Way line
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to the intersecting point of the Southern Right-of-Way line of Lower Muscatine Road and the
Northeastern corner of Johnson County Auditor's Parcel number 10-23-105-003; thence
Southwesterly 157.9 feet to the Northern Right-of-Way line of U.S. Highway 6; thence
Northwesterly 307 .82 feet to the intersection of the Northern Right-of-Way line of U.S. Highway
6 and the Eastern Right-of-Way line of First Avenue; projecting across the First Avenue Right-
of-Way along the Northern Right-of-Way line of U.S. Highway 6 to the intersection of the
Western Right-of-Way line of First Avenue and the Northern Right-of-Way line of U.S. Highway
6; thence Westerly along the Northern Right-of-Way line of U.S. Highway 6 a distance of
1123.13 feet to its intersection with the Eastern Right-of-Way line of Sycamore Street, projecting
across the Sycamore Street Right-of-Way along the Northern Right-of-Way of U.S. Highway 6 to
the intersection of the Western Right-of-Way line of Sycamore Street and the Northern Right-of-
Way line of U.S. Highway 6, to the Point of Beginning.
Said parcel contains approximately 61 acres.
And including a tract of land described as follows (2003 Amendment):
Commencing at the northeast corner of Mall Drive Subdivision, which is the point of beginning.
Thence northwesterly along the southern boundary of the Iowa Interstate Railway, to the
northeast corner of Lafferty subdivision. Thence southerly along the eastern boundary of
Lafferty Subdivision, to the centerline of Lower Muscatine Road. Thence southeasterly along
said centerline of Lower Muscatine Road to a point on an extension of the westerly right-of-way
of Sycamore Street. Thence southerly along said westerly right-of-way of Sycamore Street to
the southeast corner of Johnson County Auditor Parcel #10-14-386-003; thence 66 feet to a
point perpendicular on the eastern right-of-way line of Sycamore Street; thence northerly along
the eastern right-of-way line of Sycamore Street to the northwestern corner of Johnson County
Auditor's Parcel 10-14-457-004; thence easterly 147.61 feet to an angle point of said Parcel;
thence northeasterly 413.83 feet, thence northerly 57.36 feet to the southern right-of-way line of
Lower Muscatine Road; thence northwesterly along the southern right-of-way line of Lower
Muscatine Road to a point perpendicular 33 feet from the western corner of a parcel formerly
known as Johnson County Auditor's Parcel #10-14-452-004; thence northeasterly 223.82 feet to
the northern corner of said parcel; thence southeasterly 40 feet to the eastern corner of said
parcel; thence northeasterly along the property line of said parcel formerly known as Johnson
County Parcel #10-14-452-002 to its northern corner; thence southeasterly 150 feet along the
property line of said Parcel to its eastern corner; thence southwesterly 224.9 feet to the
intersection of said Parcel's southern corner and the northern right-of-way line of Lower
Muscatine Road. Thence southeasterly along the northern right-of-way line of Lower Muscatine
Road to the northern right-of-way line of Mall Drive; thence northeasterly 1,533.09 feet along the
northern right-of-way line of Mall Drive to the southern right-of-way line of the Iowa Interstate
Railroad, which is the point of beginning.
Said parcel contains approximately 51 acres.
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